Las Cruces councilors, mayor to be sworn in

LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces mayor, three councilors and a presiding municipal judge who were elected Nov. 3 will be sworn in Monday at a regular city council meeting.

The meeting starts at 1 p.m. when the city council — including two outgoing councilors — will wrap up old business. An item on that agenda is a vote on a Local Economic Development Act incentive for the Ol' Gringo Chili Co. The state has pledged $25,000 in LEDA funding to help the business expand, according to city documents. As part of an agreement to accept the funds, the company would have to create 10 jobs. The city would act as a fiscal agent in the matter.

That will be the final meeting for outgoing City Councilor Nathan Small of District 4, who did not run for re-election, and City Councilor Miguel Silva of District 1, who did not seek re-election to the council seat but instead ran, unsuccessfully, for mayor.

The meeting will adjourn for a swearing-in ceremony.

Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who was elected to a third term in the seat, will be sworn in, as will City Councilor Greg Smith, who's returning for a second, four-year term.

Joining the council for the first time will be Kasandra Gandara, elected to the District 1 council seat, and Jack Eakman, elected to the District 4 council seat.

Two contenders have sought partial recounts in the District 1 and 4 races, but that won't start until Wednesday, city officials have said.

Also, a new presiding municipal judge, Kieran Ryan, will take the oath of office. Ryan has the Municipal Judge II position, but he's moving to the presiding judge role.

After the swearing-in, councilors will elect a mayor pro tem, a role now held by Smith. Also, councilors will hear a first-reading on an ordinance establishing the city's economic development committee as a permanent committee.

The council will vote on a memorandum of agreement with the state transportation department to buy replacement vehicles for the city's transit operations.